“Darn. All dressed up and no place to go.”

If you’re wondering why The Agency hasn’t been returning your phone calls, the reason has just become apparent (and it has nothing to do with those creepy answering machine messages you’ve been leaving). After almost four years in production, the spy themed online action game has been cancelled.

Publisher Sony Online Entertainment told Gamasutra that halting work on The Agency will permit the company to “focus development resources” on other projects. Given that the decision also involves the termination of some 205 employees, it sounds more likely that resources are being directed towards the unemployment line.

Sony did manage to release Facebook tie-in The Agency: Covert Ops back in May 2010. Obviously less ambitious than the core game, Covert Ops was saddled with the promotional line: “Are you Spy-Curious?” Is it possible that this slogan lead directly to the cancellation of the main game? No, but it probably should have.

The Agency had been scheduled for release on PS3 and PC in the latter half of 2011.

The Black Panel has long embodied the principles of love and fidelity. If only the same could be said for our shamefully mercenary staff, who insist on pursuing other opportunities. This column allows us to monitor and catalogue their treasonous activities.

The Black Panel’s Peter Nickless is the lead guitarist for MANIC, a hard rocking four piece from Bendigo, Victoria. The band recently uploaded three tracks (Time, Chapters and Scarred) to the Triple J Unearthed Website. Have a listen and be sure to rate the boys highly!

Previous instalments of Big Brother: 18.03.11